Apparatus for controlling the passage of cars or vehicles along a railway.



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110.816,'762. PATENTBD APR. 3, 1906.

E. E. TEULEEN.

APEAEATUS EOE. ooNTEoLLlNG TEE PASSAGE 0E CASS 0E VEHICLES ALOAS A RAILWAY.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 18, 1905.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2x NITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

LOUIS H; THULLEN, oF 4EDS-EWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR To THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL y COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OE PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FoR coNTRoLLlNS THE EASSASE oE'cARS 0R VEHICLES ALONG A RAILWAY.'l 4

Specification of Letters llatenvt.

Application led January 18, 1905. -SerialrNm 241.596.

l Patented'April ,3, 19.06,

T 0 all 'witch-1, ibm/ay concern:

Be it known 'that I, LOUIS H. THULLEN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewood, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new a part or appliance' governingthe passage of cars or vehicles along a railway, especially to such ap aratus whenconnected with switchrailsan tothe control of such apparatus. I

I willdes'cribe an'apparatus embodying an electric motor for moving a pair of switch-- rails anda control therefor embodying my invention and then point out thenovel features thereof in claims.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view `of certain apparatus connected with switch-rails, circuit-control- 1ers operated thereby, a controlling-lever and circuit-controller operated thereby, an indicating apparatus and an arrangement of controlling and indicating circuits embodying my invention. view illustrating a modication of my invention. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a modiiication of my invention.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all .of the iigures.

In apparatus of the class to which my invention relates the operation thereof is controlled through suitable circuits including a circuit-controller which is operated b a controlling-lever L. The lever is move first in one direction to close certain circuits and p'ermit of the operation of .the apparatus and in4 another direction or opposite direction to close other circuits and permit of another or reverse operation of.y the ap aratus'. Ordinarily there area number o suchl levers arranged side by side in a suitable frame, some of which control through suitable circuit controllers and circuits the operation of apparatus for movin'g switch-rails, and others of which control the operation of apparatus for moving signal devices, and the levers are lmechanically interlocked in such a manner that, generally, before a lever controlling ch the following is a Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic.

,- tion and functions.

l a signal device can be moved to pass a train A over a given piece of track all levers control- 1 ling switch-rails inthe piece of track adjacent the signal device must first be in their proper positions Ato;` insure safe passage of trams. '1

Conversely/this is'true, so that before oncle-- ver canbe/ moved to control apparatus mov- Ing a lpait or appliance governing the assageof trains alon a sectionf'of railway a levers controlling ot er apparatus necessary to the piaSsage of trains along the section of railway gfnust be in their proper and final positions.

This mechanical lnterlocking is well known and need not be described. All'that isf necessary to state herein is that onelever must-be plcted all itsyfunctions in response to a movement of'it'lever and to prevent a movement toits final position until after such indication has been received. AEach lever therefore is provided with what is generally 'termed an indicating mechanism" the function of which is-to permit of reliminary and intermediate-movements of) the lever, but to prevent a final movement of the leveruntil after the apparatus has fully completed its opera- The indicating mechanism generally comprises a mechanical lock 'of some nature which permits of the preliminary and intermediate movements of the lever, but prevents a final.movement thereof, and electromagnetic means which when ene'rgized actuate the mechanical lock to have it release the lever, so that it can be moved to its final/position.` The current ,for the electromagnetic means of the indicating mechanism may be obtained in any desired manner and from any desired source; but preferably it should be of a different character from that intended for the operation of the motor and should preferably flow from the apparatus its final position to receive some indicationv l that the apparatus` has operated and com-' ICO PES

`from the apparatus the electromagnetic means thereof can be arranged to respond only to ,currents flowing from the-apparatus and not to cur-rents flowing from the point at which the lever is located and at which point the supply of current for'operating the motor is locatedt My present invention. relates, first, to a motor which maybe embodied in the appavratus and which transforms or converts the driving current 'for the motor into analternating current for the operation of the indi,-

"cation mechanism; second, to a system of control, or, stated in another way, an arrangement of circuits by means -of which the operation of the apparatus may be controlled and an indication received, and, third, to certain parts embodied in the apparatus.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, which, as hereinbefore stated, is diagram- .matical, A designates a motor,- c a" the fieldeloils thereof, and a2 the armature thereof. The armature is provided with two windings, one of which is connected with a commutator ya?, on which brushes a4 a5 rest, and the other of which is connected withgcollector-rings a a7. `The rotation ofthe armature in reverse .directions is obtainedby an alternateuse of the two'field-coils, they being so arranged on the poles of the motoras to permitofithis B designates an4 apparatus which is.generally' termed in thefart la fswitch-and-lock movement, the functions -of which are to move and lock the switch-rails in eitherA of their two ositions upon an .operation of the motor an to operate a detector-bar and circuit-controllers Included inthe operating and brush e3 rests, and the other terminal ofthe second winding is connected with a ring c, on .which a brush c5 rests. The respective rings and brushes are suitabl insulated from one another and from the vs aft. The two coils of theclutch are alternately (when the motor is operating the switch-and-lock movement) included in series circuit with the motor; but

. after the operation of the switch-anddock i the motor.

movementthe coil is cutout of circuit with This is accomplished through a circuit-controller D, which may be of any desired construction and which may be better understood by reference to operation; The

movable contact or contacts thereof d d" are alsace operated from the switch-and -lock move-` ment. .After the generation ofthe current for operating the indication mechanism .the circuit to the motor is broken through the final movement of the, levervL. The switch' and-lock movement B also operates the movable contact or contacts e of a circuit-controller E.

' L designates aleverforcontrolling,throu h, a suitable circuit-controller and circuits, t e operation of the apparatus, which may be mechanically interlocked in any well-known manner with one or more other levers. The lever L' operates a circuit-controller F, which controls the supply. of current from the source X, which may be storage batteries, to the motor. The circuit-controller .also controls the` indication-circuits between the apparatus and the indicating mechanism I, provided for the lever. The indicating mechanism comprises a mechanical lock@ for permitting preliminary and intermediate move ments of the lever, but preventing iinal movement until after the mechanical lock has been actuated to release thelever and electromagnetic meansi for actuating the lock. These velectromagnetic meansare preferably such as t'o respond only to alternating current. Such means are well-known in the art and need not 4be s eciiically described.

Tlie circuit-controller F may be of any desired arrangement'l prises a movable contact f,.which moves between iixed contacts f f 2 f3. The contact f is connected with one pole of terminal of the source of current for the lmotor and the contacts f2 f3 with two operating wires. The movable contact f is adapted upon an intermediate movement of the lever to bridge contacts f f 2 orff3. The circuit-controllerl F is also rovided with a movable contact f 4 and fixe contacts f 5, f and f7 The xed contactf5 is connected with oneterminal of an energizing-winding in the` electromagnetic meansfi and the fixed contactsff7 with the two operating-wires, for in this invention the operating-wires may be usedv for the indication-current, thereby materiall decreasing the number of wires between t e lever and apparatus.

-The circuit-controller E may be of any desired construction. As here shown, it comprises a movable contact e, which moves between iixed contacts e', e2, and e3. The circuit-controller" Eis' preferabl so arranged that the movable contact e wi l not establish the indication-circuit until after the switch- ,rails are locked and will break the. indication-circuit last established when the switch.-

rails are unlocked prior to their movement.

three wires between the lever and switching apparatus-*two operating-wires and a common returnand these three wires serve both to conduct operating-current to the motor As here shown, it com- IOO IIO

ln the present invention I employ only tween the lever Vand apparatus, by means of which the operationoi'the motor lin the ap; paratus and the final movements ofthe lever may be controlled.

1 designates a wire extending between one pole or terminal of the source oi?v current-supplyX and a brush of the armature of the operating-motorffor example,the brush (1f-resting on the commutator a3. A2and 3 are wires extending-between the field-coils of the motor and the other pole or terminal of the source of current-supplyr The wire 1 may be termed a common return and may serve as a return for a number of switch-operating motors, andthe wires 2 3 operating- Wires. Assuming" (see y Fig. 1) that the switch-rails R R are in what is technically termed theirr` normal position and areabout to be moved to their reverse" position andthat the lever L has been given its .preliminary movement-in other words, it

has been moved to the position I/then circuits will be closed on the ymotor to have it operatethe apparatus to move theswitchrails to their reverse position. With the lever in the position L current will iow in the circuit established from the source X, wire 4,

contacts f', f, and f2 of circuit-controller F, wire 2, field-coil a of switch-operating motor,

' wire 5, electromagnetic circuit-controller E',

Wire 6, armature e1o of electromagnetic circuit-controller E2 and contacts controlled thereby, wire 7, contacts d3 d d4 o f circuitcontroller D, wire 8,-brush c5, ring c, one coil of clutch C, ring c, brush c', wire 9, brush a5,

commutator a3, and armature-winding 1,

brush a# and wires 10 1 back to the battery X. The current in this circuit will operate the magnetic circuit-controller to openthe operating-circuity for the apparatus when movin the switch-rails to normal position and w' l cause the motor Ato operate the apparatus to move the switch-rails R R to their reverse position. After the switchrails have been moved to and locked in their reverse position the contact-piece ai` will have been moved into en agement with the contacts d3 and d5 'and t e contact-piece e of the circuit-controller will have been moved into engagement with the contact-pieces e e2. The movement of the contact-pieced from out of engagement with the contact-pieces 'cl3 d1 into engagement With the contact-pieces d5 da cuts the clutch-Windingout of series circuit with the motor by establishing'a shunt-circuit around the clutch, thereby preventing any urther voperation of the switch and lock movement. The motor A, however, continues to operate, the operating-circuit being `from coil a, wire`5, electromagnetic circuit-controller E, Wire 6, armature el", wire v7 contacts da, d', d5, wires 11 9, brushes a5, a, commutator 0,3 and Winding connected therewith, and wireslO 1 back to battery.l The continued rotation of the armature Will cause a difference of potential between the collector-rin s a6 a" anda current to iovv in a circuit whic starting vfrom the brushon collectors-ring a", I 1s wire 12', resistance Iztg, wires 10 1, resist- -ance R3, wire 13, electromagnetic means of in- I dicating mechanism I, wire 1'4, contacts f4,

f5, f7, wires 15 3' 16, contactfpieces e e e2, and Wire 17 to brush a7. a The current flowing in this circuit will bean alternating current, andthe electromagnetic means of the indicatin .mechanism' I will cause a movement of t e disk i2 to release themechanical lock i and permit of the lever L being moved to its linal position. The movement of the lever Il to its iinal position causes the disengagement of the contactf from the contactf, andy thereby opens the operating-circuit on themotor.V

To move the switch-rails R R to their normal lposition, the controlling-leverL is moved to have the contact-piece engage the contacts f f3, in which event currentfwill Vroo flow from battery X, wire 4, contacts f f f 3, wires 18 15 3, field-coil a', Wires 19 20, electromagnetic circut-controller E2, (which will then open the operating circuit last described,) Wire-.21, armature e', wire 22, conm5 tacts d d (Z7, wire 23, brush c3, rin c2 and second coil of clutch C, ring c, brus c,'wire 9,

brushes a,5 a, armature a3 and Winding connected therewith, and wires 10 1 to battery X. The switch-and-lock movement will then` r 1o `be operated to move the switch-rails from reverse to normal. 'After the switch rails have been moved to and locked in their normal position the circuit-controller D Qpelatesf-e to cut the clutch C out of the motor-circuit 'by i'1'5 tor to generate an alternating Ycurrent for in- 12o dication purposes in the indication-circuit. The indication-circuit for the normal position of the switch-railsbis established by the contact-piece bridging the contact-pieces e e3, and starting. from the brush on the collector-ring asis wlre 12, resistanclz, wires 10 .1, resistance R3, wire 13, energizing-coil of the 1nd1cat1on mechamsm I, wire 14, contacts f 5 f4 ffwires 24 2 25 26,conta'cts es ce', and v Wire 17 to brush"on collector-ring a7.

This 13o current will operate the mechanical lock on the indication mechanism to release the lever .current,) owing to the fact that the indicating apparatus can be operated with a small amount of energy and does not res ond in its operation to release the mechanica lock to a direct current. I i .f

The electromagnetic circuit-controllers E E2 may be of'any desired construction and arrangement. ,As shown, they comprise electromagnets and armatures 'e10 eu.- 'Their function is to open an operatin -circuit when the electromagnet comprised t erein is energized. For example, when the electromagne-t E is energized its circuit-controller o ens the o erating-circuit on the motor A, W ich woul ,if charged, result in moving the switchrails 'to normal position. the' electromagnet E2 is energized its circuitcontroller opens-the operating-circuit on the motor A, which would, if charged, result in moving the switch-rails to reverse position.

. In Fig. 2 I have shown the motor A as comprising one field a and two arniature-wind- V ings, by means of which reverse or opposite rotations of the armature a,2 may be obtained. The second operating-winding is connected with a commutator a, on which rest the brushe'sa13 am. ture-windings there is a third winding, by which the indication-current is obtained. This is the same as inthe form of invention illustrated in Fig. 1. With the exception of the features above noted Fig-2 is the same as Fi 1 and' operates in'the same way.

In ig. 3 the brushes on the collector-rings a 0.7 are connected with the primary `winding of a transformer T, the secondary t of which is connected with the wi'res 17 and 1'0. This arrangement insulates the armature-winding used f for generating the indication-current from the passage through it of direct current.

'It also could be the means of changing the potential of current for the electromagneticmeans of the .indicating mechanism. With .this arrangement the alternating currentA is obtained from the direct-current winding of the-motor, `the two collecting-rings (or there may be only one such ring) being connected to said winding or commutator on the directcurrent end in the usual manner to obtain an alternating current and which is vwell known in the art. The alternating current couldV be Conversely, whenl In addition to the two armaused without the use of'an intermediate apparatus, such as a transformenif other means were provided, so thatl the direct current used onv the motor end would not interfere with the indicationor the operation of the apparatus.V

I .do lnot restrict myself to any particular form of means for transforming or converting the direct current lto an alternating current. Any well-known means of transforming or converting and collection may be utilized. What I claim as my invention is-.

- 1. The combination with a reversible electricmotor, a switch-and-lock movement operated thereby, an electric clutch in'circuit with the motor and adapted when ener ized to. couple the armature of the motor wit the switch-and-lock movement whereby the sWitch-and-lock movement will be operated, and a circuit-controller o erated by the switch-and-lock movement or lopening the circuit including the electric clutch but not the motor-circuit. l

2. The combinationwith a reversible electric motor, a'switch-aIid-lock movement operated thereby, an electric clutch adapted at times tobe included in seriesl .circuit with the motor and adapted when in series with the motor to couple it with the switch-and-lock movement whereby it will be operated, and a lock movement for closing a shunt-circuit around the electric clutch.

3. The combination with an electric motor.

. circuit-controller opeated by the switch-and- IOC.

rection, and the other of which is in circuit with the motor when the motor-armature rotates in a reverse or opposite direction. y

4. The combination with an electricl motor, provided with a winding in which an electric current is'generated by thejrotationof the motor-armature, a source of. current for operating the motor, operating-circuits including 'IIO said motor and source of energy, a controllinglever for said circuits, a switch-and-lock movement operated, by said motor, anv electric clutch adapted when in the operating-circuit of they motor to couple the motor-armature with the switch-and-lock movement, an indication mechanism for the .controlling-lever comprising electromagnetic means,` indication-circuits which include the electromagnetic means of the indication mechanism and the said winding of the motor, and a circuitcontroller operated. bythe sWitch-and-lock movement foil cutting said clutch out of the operating-circuit thus preventing further operation of the sWitch-and-lock movement and leaving the motor free to be operated to generate currentin the indlcation-circuits to operate the indication mechanism.

5. The combination With an electric motor,

vcontroller operated by the sWitch-'and-lock movement for cutting said clutch out of t'he operating-circuit thus preventing further operation of the sWitch-and-lock movement and leaving the motorvfree to be operated to transform a direct current into an alternating curlrent to operate the indication mechanism,

and a second circuit-controller operated by the sWitch-and-lock movement for controlling the indication-circuits.

6. The combination with an electric motor provided With a Winding and means for transforming a direct current to an alternating current by the rotation ofthe motor-armature, a source of current for operating said motor, a controlling-lever, operating and indicating circuits controlled by said lever, an indicating mechanism included in the indicating-circuits, a switch-and-lock movement operated by the motor, an electric clutch for couplin the motor-armature withthe switch-and-loc movement When included in an operating-circuit of the motor, and a circuit-controller operated by the sWitch-and-lock movement for cutting said clutch out of the operating-circuit after an operation of the sWitch-and-lock movement whereby the motor can be operated to transform an indication-current.

7. The combination with an electric motor provided with a single field-winding and two armature-windings by means of which a reverse rotation of the armature can be had, a third Winding comprised in the motor for transforming a direct current into an alternating current for indicating purposes, a source of energy for said motor, operatingcircuits including said source and motor, indication-circuits including said Winding, a controlling-lever for said circuits, and indicating mechanism for said lever which is included in the indicating-circuits, a switchand-lock movement operated from said motor, an electric clutch for coupling the motorarmature with the sWitch-and-locl; movement When included in an operating-circuit,

and a circuit-controller operated by the' sWitch-and-lock movement for cutting. said clutch out of the operating-circuit and thereby prevent further operation of the switchand-lock movement.

8. Thecombination With an electric motor provided with a winding in which a current is generated by the rotation of the motor-armature, a switch-and-lock movement operated by the motor, an electric clutch for coupling the motor-shaft with the sWitch-and-lock movement When included in an operatingcircuit With the motor, and a circuit-controller operated by the switch-and-lock movement after each operation thereof for cutting said clutch out of theoperating-circuit.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS H. THULLEN. 

